Tig’ daddy

The time between a manufacturer releasing a new model and the tuning fraternity seizing upon it like vultures on a limping bunny shortens again. VW has barely taken the wraps off the Tiguan SUV, but that hasn't stopped ABT Sportsline tuning it up to a frenzied state of softroadishness.

The guys at ABT don't just do the standard cosmetic overhaul - after years of involvement in Germany's DTM touring car championship with Audi, they're pretty good at squeezing out a bit of extra power, too - so you can be fairly sure you're getting the quickest Tiguan on the road. Actually, you might be getting the only Tiguan on the road for a while.

ABT has boosted the power of the Tiguan's 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine by 33 per cent to an impressive 200bhp, while if you opt for the turbodiesel with ABT's brilliantly named Power S turbo option, you'll see the same power output and an even bigger lump of torque.

Those wheels are 20-inchers, and naturally there's a four-pipe exhaust round the back. Despite ourselves, we actually rather like the hotted-up Tiguan with its big silly bodykit and faux-aluminium skidpan. Maybe there's something to be said for getting into the tuning game early.